Syrian authorities have reported that 14 of their personnel, part of the faction that ousted Bashar al Assad’s administration, have perished during confrontations with supporters of the deposed leader.
Additionally, 10 members of the security forces affiliated with Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS) sustained injuries after being ambushed in northwestern Syria, as stated by Syria’s interior ministry.
Their operation aimed at apprehending a former Assad official, who is accused of issuing execution decrees against detainees.
In the aftermath of Assad’s removal, numerous Syrians have lost their lives in acts of retribution, particularly individuals from the Alawite minority, which is a sect of Shiite Islam that Assad belongs to.
In the capital city of Damascus, Alawite demonstrators engaged in clashes with Sunni counter-demonstrators on Wednesday, while similar protests in Homs have resulted in a curfew, according to state media.
Reports indicated that the curfew would be enforced for just one night, running from 6pm on Wednesday until 8am on Thursday morning local time (3pm-5am UK time).
Syrian fighters stand on vehicle parked on a street at the central square in Damascus. Pic: AP
The scope of the latest turmoil that triggered the curfew remains unclear.
The newly established de facto authorities, the HTS faction, did not respond to a request for comments from Reuters.
HTS leader Ahmed al Sharaa, formerly known by his alias Abu Mohammed al Jolani, has pledged to unify Syria’s diverse factions and to govern in a manner that fosters acceptance of all communities and beliefs.
Just yesterday, he participated in a gathering where several rebel leaders consented to disband their factions and integrate under the Syrian defense ministry.
However, unrest has erupted across the nation, including in Damascus, where protests ensued following the burning of a Christmas tree.
Syrian rebel fighters shout slogans against Assad in Damascus. File pic: AP
Kurdish-led fighters engage in confrontations with pro-Turkish rebels
Additionally, The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported on Wednesday that 12 pro-Turkish combatants were killed in eastern Aleppo during an operation conducted by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which receive support from the US.
On Tuesday, the SDF announced the initiation of a renewed counter-offensive against the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) to reclaim territories it had previously held near Syria’s northern border.
Skirmishes between the SDF and the SNA have escalated since the beginning of the month after the collapse of the Assad regime, with the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights stating that numerous fatalities have occurred on both sides.
Nonetheless, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has issued threats toward Kurdish-affiliated groups still operating in northern Syria.
Turkish President Erdogan. Pic: AP
Erdogan warns to ‘eliminate’ Kurdish factions
The Turkish government has emphasized the necessity for the disbandment of the Kurdish YPG militia following the downfall of the Assad regime earlier this month.
“The separatist terrorists will either surrender their arms, or they will be laid to rest in Syrian territory along with their arms,” President Erdogan declared today in parliament.
“We are determined to dismantle the terrorist organization that seeks to create a bloodied chasm between us and our Kurdish brothers,” he continued.
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Syria’s rebel factions reach consensus to disband
Demonstrations after Syrian Christmas tree is set ablaze
Turkey perceives the Kurdish YPG militia—the primary component of the US-supported SDF—as an offshoot of the banned Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).
The PKK has been classified as a terrorist entity by Turkey, the US, and the EU, having engaged in an insurgency against the Turkish government since 1984.
The SDF, which was estimated to comprise approximately 100,000 personnel in 2021, is not among the factions that consented to disband and come under the Syrian defense ministry on Tuesday.
